Major Players

Jackson – Nicely treated at the weights in this race considering he’s already won a stakes event and not penalised. Settled off the speed and closed off strongly to narrowly win the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes. Should be afforded a similar run from mid draw, so expect to see him winding up late. Definite leading chance.

Rafha’s Choice – Held on gamely to record second win from as many starts in a small field at Rosehill last start. The drop back to 1000m looks to be of benefit but barrier 18 makes life difficult. One can imagine this event will be much stronger than what he has faced previously therefore happy to risk based on the early market price of $5.50-6.00.

Rampage – Showed great tenacity to win on debut at Moonee Valley and appears open to improvement. Wide draw makes things awkward coming to Sydney for the first time.

Credible Witness – Run was extremely encouraging at Moonee Valley in the Inglis Bonus race on Cox Plate day. The pattern clearly favoured horses on speed and close to the fence that day and he was posted three wide for the journey and still managed to make ground late. Since returned to Sydney and produced two very sharp barrier trials and have marked him favourite for the race.

Extreme Choice – Melbourne visitor who looked nice winning a Rosehill barrier trial on Tuesday morning. He appeared very professional, bouncing straight to the front and cruising to the line under a nice grip in a time that was just shy of Golden Slipper favourite Capitalist.

Jeanneau – Really like the way she found the line to run second behind Calliope in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes at this track and distance on October 3rd. She appeared a touch green, which is understandable for an early running two-year-old.

Vegas Strip – Attracted strong support on debut at Moonee Valley when finishing fourth behind Rampage. She settled back in the field and worked to the line nicely in a performance that would suggest she would be suited to the open spaces and long straight at Randwick.

Midnight Rose – The stable produced Mossfun to win this race in 2013 and this filly has trialled good enough to suggest she will be a major player. She possesses natural speed and appeared strong when challenged at the end of her trial win at Warwick Farm.

Major players

It’s Somewhat – Produced an encouraging run first-up in the Festival Stakes with 59kg, traditionally the best lead up event for this race. The overall time for the 1500m was a touch slower than Happy Clapper’s on the corresponding day at the same distance, suggesting those on speed were advantaged. Wide draw makes him vulnerable and the race profile is heavily against horses up in the weights.

Malice – Looked a touch one paced when fifth behind Casino Dancer last start. Has since been given a month to freshen and kept ticking over with a very soft barrier trial on November 30th. Should roll forward and find a comfortable position and drops to a competitive weight.

Casino Dancer – This mare has absolutely thrived since the blinkers were applied with two wins and two placings including a solid victory the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes 1800m at Sandown last start. She was beaten by Frespanol carrying significantly less weight three starts ago and that form reference suggests she might struggle here with 55kg.

Telepathic – Chris Waller loves running horses over 2000m before dropping back in distance to win a feature Randwick mile and this mare follows that exact formula. It has worked for him with Rangirangdoo (Doncaster), Sacred Falls (Doncaster) and He’s Your Man (Epsom) and it would take a brave person to say Telepathic can’t add to that list. She toyed with her rivals in the ATC Cup last start and gets a great opportunity to continue winning form with only 53kg.

Zanbagh – Caught the eye in the Festival Stakes, producing the best sectional splits for the final 400m home in 22.56 seconds. The increase in distance to 1600m and shifting to Randwick appear two big positives for this mare. Another positive in her favour is that she minimum drops to 53kg in this race, 1kg lower than her last start in the Festival Stakes. The wide barrier is not much of a concern as she will look to get back and find cover. She looks well over the odds in early betting markets.

God’s In Him – Disappointed when favourite last start but can certainly forgive given he carried 61kg and was having his first run off a 56 day break. His previous effort when second to Vashka in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes shows what he can do on the minimum weight of 53kg in this grade. Drawn to get the run of the race and will be hard to hold out.

Happy Clapper – Has recorded two impressive wins this preparation and now looks primed to show his best third-up on his home track over 1600m. He did a great job with 60.5kg last start and is now suitably weighted on the minimum with 53kg. He finished his last start with 200m sectionals of 11.30 secs, 11.34 secs and 12.74 secs, indicating he tired in the final furlong and is open to improvement this weekend. Well found in the market but looks to get plenty of the favours from the draw.